Digital BW, The Print

Now that I finally have acquired a densitometer, I've started the
fine-tuning for my QTR printing. I have a few questions (so far):

(1) My 2200 appears to have an "ink limit" value of just about 60% (UC
ink on EEM paper). This would appear to be pretty low--considering
Roy's statements (in "QuadtoneRIP Calibration") about typical values
of 80% or higher for printers like the 2200--and also considering that
QTR's own EEM_2200 profiles for the 2200 suggest a default_limit of
75%. I realize that each printer has its own characteristics, so I
suppose mine is an example of such variability. Or...is it more likely
due to something else (such as a mistake in my calibration procedure)?
Anyone else getting such a low ink limit% with their 2200 printer?

(2) After determining the ink limit value (see above) the next step
--for ink density calibration--calls for printing another calibration
ink-pattern using the newly determined (lower) ink limit. For making
neutral prints with std UC inks, this means relating the LK maximum
to a K percentage of equivalent density. It's a small matter perhaps,
but can't this step--in principal--be done using the same (100%) ink
pattern? Just determine what K-scale value equals the LK (max)
density, and then divide the result by the limit value (i.e., divide
by "limit%/100").

(3) About the new-to-me X-Rite 810 densitometer: it works fine but I
often find the display difficult to read in subdued ambient light. Is
the lack of LCD backighting just reflect (no pun) the 1980's
technology, or does my 810 need some repair (light bulb replaced)? 

Phil

> (3) About the new-to-me X-Rite 810 densitometer: it works fine but I
> often find the display difficult to read in subdued ambient light. 


Phil,

did you play with the "Display Angle" wheel on the left?....



Antonis

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Antonis"
<antonisphoto@y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> > (3) About the new-to-me X-Rite 810 densitometer: it works fine but I
> > often find the display difficult to read in subdued ambient light. 
> 
> 
> Phil,
> 
> did you play with the "Display Angle" wheel on the left?....
> 

Yep--it helps assure optimum contrast, but no cure for just plain dim
room lighting.

Phil

RGB for Black and white with 2200?
I searched the archives for RGB but came up with squat so I apologize for
what I¹m sure is something you¹ve gone over time and time again.
But the nice guy at the pro photo shore says if I print on greyscale it¹s
just using the black ink. Not sure if he said its even using the grey.
But RGB makes use of all the inks. (from a monochrome grey print)
Would that really be true?

I find myself introducing as much color as possible into my mainly black and
white work.
Duo toning to the max or just playing around making the shadows cyan blue
and the mid tones red.

So much for the ³silver² print. (in look)
This from a guy who went with Brovira over Portriga in the 70¹s!
And with the hope that I¹m getting all those little carts going at once.
Making for a richer smoother fuller print.

Any basic in reality?


Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is one case where it would be justified to use a loupe, and then you would know ehat 
you are getting.

I convert to RGB before printing and certainly get "all inks" in my B&W prints.

But "look and know".

Scott

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Mark Rabiner <mark@r...> wrote:

> RGB for Black and white with 2200?
> I searched the archives for RGB but came up with squat so I apologize for
> what I¹m sure is something you¹ve gone over time and time again.
> But the nice guy at the pro photo shore says if I print on greyscale it¹s
> just using the black ink. Not sure if he said its even using the grey.
> But RGB makes use of all the inks. (from a monochrome grey print)
> Would that really be true?
> 
> I find myself introducing as much color as possible into my mainly black and
> white work.
> Duo toning to the max or just playing around making the shadows cyan blue
> and the mid tones red.
> 
> So much for the ³silver² print. (in look)
> This from a guy who went with Brovira over Portriga in the 70¹s!
> And with the hope that I¹m getting all those little carts going at once.
> Making for a richer smoother fuller print.
> 
> Any basic in reality?
> 
> 
> Mark Rabiner
> Photography
> Portland Oregon
> http://rabinergroup.com/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> From: Mark Rabiner [mailto:mark@...]
>
> RGB for Black and white with 2200?

Using the Epson driver, Black Only mode uses black ink only, not gray.
Turning that off uses all seven inks. The problems with the former are
grain, due to the large dot spacing needed to get light tones, and the
somewhat warm cast of the black ink on most papers. The problems with the
latter are metamerism, and the impossibility of getting a perfectly neutral
grayscale across the full range.

--

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@...